The streams are all still near or flowing at safe wading levels. So far, the scattered rain showers haven’t raised the levels enough to make them unsafe to wade with caution. The weather and water is still warm for this time of the year. We received two good reports from Perfect Fly customers fishing yesterday, and the day before that. You may see some early hatches in the lowest elevations as the water is quite warm. We recommend fishing the lowest elevations of the park where the water is the warmest.
I am leaving the following paragraph up until good hatches begin to take place: Remember that fifty degrees Fahrenheit is the minimum water temperature at which the Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, Little Brown stoneflies and Little Black caddis will start to hatch. Of course, the water temperature needs to stay around 50 degrees for a few days in a row, as well as for most of the daylight hours for good hatches to start taking place. This is just a reminder that it is getting near that time. I have added the new hatches coming soon in our fly list below. Now, is the time to get prepared for the hatches by purchasing the flies you will need. That can be done from our Perfect Fly website linked just below here or by calling 800 594 4726. Perfect Flies are the World’s best flies. One reason for this is that the flies look much like the real things they imitate.
Check out our sister websites: www.flyfishingyellowstonenationalpark.com & www.perfectflystore.com
Smoky Mountain Stream Conditions:
The streams with links that have nearby USGS Station Real-time stream data: Click the links to see updates:
Little River: Rate 275 cfs at 2.26 ft
(Good wading up to 239 cfs and with extra caution up to 300 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 73.6 cfs at 3.30 ft (Good wading up
to 65 cfs and with extra caution up to 125 cfs)
Oconaluftee River: Rate 628 cfs at 2.09 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 700 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 148 cfs at 2.78 ft. (Good wading up to 60 cfs and with extra
caution up to 100 cfs.
Hazel Creek and the other larger NC streams flowing into Fontana Lake:
The streams are all near a normal level.
Weather Forecast: (click the boxes below for more detailed weather information)
https://forecast7.com/en/35d71n83d51/gatlinburg/?unit=us
https://forecast7.com/en/35d48n83d32/cherokee/?unit=us
Trout Flies Currently Needed or needed very soon;
Streamers:
Brown Sculpin: 6
White Belly Sculpin: 6
Articulated Sculpin and Leeches: 4
Blue-winged olives: 16/18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Winter Stoneflies: 16/18
nymphs
adults
Blue Quills: 18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Quill Gordons: 12/14
nymphs
emerging duns
duns
spinners
larva
pupa
adults
LIttle Brown Stoneflies: 16/18
nymphs
adults
Recommended Fishing Strategy:
Keep in mind, the strategies I am recommending is for the maximum odds of catching numbers of fish. Many prefer or favor a dry fly and by all means there isn’t anything wrong with that. It’s just a fact that if nothing is hatching at the time, it reduces your odds of success. You can still probably hook some trout, just not as many as if you fish subsurface. Of course, this is also based on using good techniques and the right flies. Some guys don’t know how to fish below the surface.
Strategy:
Not all of the insects you see above will be hatching in the same location. It is usually only one or two. It varies with the elevation. Some are just starting in the low elevations and some about finished in the higher elevations. If you fished the day or two before and know where something is hatching, fish the nymph or larva stage of it. If you haven’t fished the day or two before, until I spotted something hatching, I would fish the BWO nymph. If you spot something hatching (coming off the water), change to the appropriate emerger, dun or adult imitations of the insect.
Tips for Beginners:
Don’t let anyone intimidate you by contending that fly fishing is more difficult to learn and master than other types of fishing. It isn’t.
Thank you for visiting our website
James Marsh